Dover Grammar School for Boys 11+ Guide 2026
Choosing a grammar school is an important step in your child's education. This independent guide by Rurera explains how entry to Dover Grammar School for Boys works, what the 11+ assessment involves. In addition, it provides students with structured practice, expert guidance, and progress tracking to improve exam readiness.
60-SECOND SUMMERY
- Type: Dover Grammar School for Boys is a selective Boys Only in Kent with 150 places per year.
- Exam: Admission is based on the 11+ covering Maths, English, and No.
- Registration: Opens Sunday, 1 June 2025 and closes Monday, 30 June 2025.
- Catchment: No areas may get priority for admission (check the admissions policy).
- Offers: Depend on scores and oversubscription rules.
- Test date: Saturday, 13 September 2025; results: Wednesday, 15 October 2025.
- CAF deadline: Submit school preferences by Thursday, 30 October 2025 through the CAF system.
- Preparation: Rurera provides mock tests, practice papers, and progress tracking.
- Ofsted: Rated Good on Monday, 20 January 2025.
- Tip: Start early to build confidence and reduce exam stress.
Dover Grammar School for Boys Overview
Dover Grammar School for Boys is a selective Kent grammar school rated Good by Ofsted, with Outstanding behaviour and strong teaching. It offers a broad curriculum, modern facilities, and enrichment activities. Admission to Year 7 requires passing the Kent Test or Dover Test, with places allocated by scores and oversubscription rules.
- Local authority
- Kent
- Catchment area
- No
- Fees
- State-funded
- School type
- Day School
- Types
- Boys Only
- Places per year
- 150
- Ofsted rating
- Good
- Admission type
- Selective
- Exam format
- Kent Test
Grammar Schools in Same Consortium
Dover Grammar School for Boys Contact Information
School address
Dover Grammar School for Boys
Astor Ave, Dover CT17 0DQ, United Kingdom
Contact details
Key Dates for Your Calendar
Keeping track of admission dates and deadlines can be challenging. The timeline below highlights the key milestones to help you plan ahead and ensure nothing is missed.
- Registration window opens:
- Registration window closes:
- 11+ assessment takes place:
- Results shared with parents:
- Kent Test (Out-of-County Schools):
- Application deadline (CAF):
- National offer day:
Dover Grammar School for Boys Admissions Process
Applying to Dover Grammar School for Boys for Year 7 is a clear, step-by-step process. Following each stage carefully ensures your child's application is complete and considered on time. Being familiar with the process helps parents plan ahead and avoid missing key deadlines.
Admissions Policy 2026
It is important to read the Dover Grammar School for Boys Admissions Policy PDF carefully. The document explains the eligibility criteria and provides full details of the admission process.
Read PolicyRegister for the entrance assessment
Parents must complete registration for the entrance assessment within the published registration window. This registration is handled separately from the local council application. Making sure all information is correct will secure your child's place for the assessment.
Register NowSubmit your secondary school preferences
If your child meets the required standard, you must list Dover Grammar School for Boys on your Common Application Form (CAF) before Thursday, 30 October 2025.
What to Expect in the Dover Grammar School for Boys 11+ exam?
The Dover Grammar School for Boys 11 Plus exam is administered by FSCE and takes place in early autumn of Year 6. All test papers are completed in one day at the school. The exam includes a mix of multiple-choice and written response questions, designed to assess reasoning and core academic skills.
Children are tested on Key Stage 2-level content, focusing on knowledge taught up to the end of Year 5, so no unfamiliar curriculum content is included.
Exam papers typically include:
English
English: tests reading comprehension, grammar, punctuation, vocabulary, and skills like sentence completion, error spotting, and synonyms/antonyms.Maths
Maths: assesses school-taught topics including times tables, operations, fractions, decimals, percentages, ratio, area, perimeter, and problem-solving skills.Verbal Reasoning
Verbal reasoning: tests your child's ability to solve problems with words, letters, and numbers, including pattern recognition and word relationships, in a 30-minute session.Non Verbal Reasoning
Non-verbal reasoning: assesses your child's ability to work with shapes, diagrams, and patterns, spotting similarities, differences, and sequences, in a 30-minute timed session.In addition to subject knowledge, the assessment considers verbal and non-verbal reasoning skills. There is no fixed pass mark; instead, pupils must meet the required standard, with final offers determined by scores, available places, and oversubscription criteria.
Take control of your child's 11+ preparation.
Not sure if your child is on track for the grammar school 11+? You don't need to guess what to cover or whether they're ready. Rurera shows you exactly what to practise each week and how they're performing, so you can stay ahead of the process without the stress.
- Follow personalised weekly exam plans that show them what to learn next.
- Download replica 11+ practice papers and upload a photo for instant, stress-free marking.
- Track progress and see how they compare to others applying to the same schools.
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Try Rurera for freeHow does place allocation work at Dover Grammar School for Boys?
If there are more applications than places available, Dover Grammar School for Boys applies oversubscription criteria. Priority may be given to children who meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Children whose Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans name the school.
- Children who have a sibling living at the same address who currently attends the school.
- Looked After Children and previously Looked After Children.
- Children who are eligible for pupil premium funding (free school meals).
- Children who have been eligible for pupil premium funding (free school meals) at any point in the last six years.
- Children who have a parent who is a member of staff at the school.
- Children with health or special access reasons that require attendance at the school.
- Other children, ranked in order of distance from the school, measured in a straight line.
Dover Grammar School for Boys [does not] operate a catchment area. This means that children are not prioritised based on how close they live to the school.
Preparing for the 11+ Entrance Exam with Rurera
The 11 Plus is a competitive entrance exam for grammar schools, testing skills in English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Rurera is designed to help pupils prepare effectively for these core areas, with structured practice that reflects the demands of real 11 Plus exams.
Why Rurera Is Good for Learning
Rurera is a powerful learning platform designed to support students from early learning through advanced academic preparation. By combining child-friendly design, interactive learning, structured academic resources, and strong progress tracking, Rurera offers a complete learning experience for both children and parents.
Age-Appropriate and Learner-Centred Design
Rurera is built with age-appropriate design principles that match a child's language level and cognitive development. The platform uses simple navigation, clear instructions, and structured layouts to ensure learners can focus on learning without distractions. As students progress to higher levels, Rurera adapts by offering more structured academic content and exam-focused layouts.
Interactive and Gamified Learning Experience
Rurera integrates interactive tools, games, animations, and engaging activities to make learning enjoyable. These features help younger learners stay motivated while reinforcing key concepts. Gamified elements encourage regular practice and help students develop confidence through continuous engagement.
Rurera delivers an interactive and gamified learning experience by integrating engaging tools, games, animations, and activities that make learning enjoyable and motivating for younger learners, while reinforcing key concepts and building confidence through regular practice. Alongside this, Rurera offers a high-quality, exam-focused curriculum with a wide range of structured resources, including practice and past papers with detailed step-by-step solutions, time management guidance, hints, and exam techniques, as well as subject-specific materials for Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning, complemented by Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar (SPaG) and vocabulary-building resources to help learners master core concepts and develop strong exam skills.
Early Preparation and Structured Learning Pathways
Rurera supports early academic preparation by offering learning materials from Year 3 onwards, including age-specific practice papers for younger learners. This allows students to build familiarity with exam-style questions gradually, reducing pressure and improving performance over time.
Rurera supports early academic preparation by offering structured learning materials from Year 3 onwards, including age-specific practice papers that help younger learners gradually build familiarity with exam-style questions, reduce pressure, and improve performance over time. Its learning content is organised into clear, well-defined modules such as past paper-based learning, revision-focused courses, beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels, as well as dedicated scholarship and exam preparation pathways, making it easy for parents and educators to identify and select the most appropriate support for each learner.
Parental Involvement and Monitoring Tools
Rurera encourages strong parental involvement by providing tools that allow parents to monitor learning progress, lesson completion, and performance trends. Parents can stay informed about what their child is learning and provide additional support at home, creating a strong partnership between learners, parents, and educators.
Measuring Progress and Learning Outcomes
Rurera includes robust tracking and assessment tools to measure student progress accurately. Features such as diagnostic assessments, mock exams, quiz scores, lesson completion rates, and time spent on tasks allow educators to understand each learner's strengths and areas for improvement. This data-driven approach helps personalise learning and ensures students receive the right level of support.
Expert Guidance and Personalised Support
Rurera offers personalised tuition and online tutoring supported by expert educators. Learners benefit from tailored teaching strategies based on performance data, ensuring continuous improvement and targeted support.
Get your free 11+ learning plan and topic list
Find out exactly what your child needs to study for their target grammar school. Simply enter the school, and Rurera will generate a personalised 11+ learning plan and topic list aligned to that school's exams so you can focus on what really matters.
Try Rurera for freeDover Grammar School for Boys Ofsted Report
Dover Grammar School for Boys was last inspected by Ofsted on Monday, 20 January 2025. The inspection lasted one day, and the published report rated the school as Good. A summary of the inspection outcomes is shown below, along with a link to the full Ofsted report.
Ofseted Report Summary
Dover Grammar School for Boys (DGSB) is an ambitious selective school where pupils excel academically and personally. Behaviour is exemplary, with strong relationships and a safe, inclusive environment. The school offers wide enrichment opportunities, including clubs, sports, trips, and leadership roles. Sixth-form students act as positive role models, inspiring younger pupils.
Leaders provide a broad and challenging curriculum, though some areas need better sequencing for sixth-form readiness. Teachers are experts who support SEND and disadvantaged pupils effectively. Reading, personal development, and careers guidance are strongly emphasised, preparing pupils for future education and work. Overall, DGSB equips students for success while continuing to refine curriculum progression.
Grammar Schools Near Dover Grammar School for Boys
Dover Grammar School for Girls
Frith road Dover Kent CT16 2PZ1 miles away
The Harvey Grammar School
Cheriton Rd, Folkestone CT19 5JY, United Kingdom6 miles away
The Folkestone School for Girls
Coolinge Ln, Folkestone CT20 3RB, United Kingdom7 miles away
Sir Roger Manwood's School
Manwood Road Sandwich Kent CT13 9JX10 miles away
Simon Langton Girl's Grammar School
Old Dover Road Canterbury Kent CT1 3EW13 miles away
Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys
Langton Ln, Nackington Rd, Canterbury CT4 7AS, United Kingdom13 miles away
These distances are calculated in a straight line. The actual route and distance may vary.
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